Identify

So, I have this interview on Monday and I’m on edge since I haven’t done this in awhile now. Naturally I ask the first person I see, that happened to be my sister, to mock interview me.

We started off well till she asked me the most basic question, Tell me a little bit about yourself? My answer errr… that’s right I completely choked. After a few minutes of staring on her part and awkward silence on my part, I realise that I should probably say something. Being completely unoriginal I blurt out that I got my degree in blah blah, did so and so. Beyond that I got nothing. Except this little voice in my head telling me how absurd it was to be asked to describe myself in a few words.

Wondering how normal people answer that question? Is it only me who’s bothered to introduce myself by my degree or flaunting my achievements? Is that all I am?

Reminds me of one of my favourite movie The Breakfast club. (Spoiler alert). Those of you who’ve seen it will know that I’m referring to the fact that Mr Vernon asks the students to write a 1000 word essay on who they think they are. Preposterous, right? Well, it was detention. Anyway, the students end up writing him a letter explaining how crazy he’s being by asking them to write who they think they are. Since he’s already formed opinions about all of them.

“Why do you care? You see us as you want to see us in the simplest terms, the most convenient definitions.”

Truer words were never said. We are all judgemental creatures. Forming opinions in our little minds the minute we see something. Introductions are a mere formality.

I know when somebody asks about me they don’t want to know the real me. So my brain automatically stores the relevant data eliminating the rest.

Which explains why I zoned out earlier. Must have triggered something in the discarded-information-section of my brain, reminding me there is more than one way to answer that question. Why a practised superficial answer? Why not a genuine insight?

Okay, Maybe you can’t go into detail every time someone asks. Specially ill-advised during interviews, that would be disastrous!

Remember that people will always see you as they want to. All I’m asking is that next time you’re in a similar position, don’t let your credentials be all you are. Because you’re so much more.

Dolly Parton once said “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.”

Go ahead ask yourself, who you really are.

I dare you.
Love,

Manal